Billy Graham Team Moves In To Help North Carolina after Florence
By Dr. Mark Denison - October 8, 2018
The town is in survival mode.
After navigating around numerous roads closed from flooding, 11 Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) chaplains made it to New Bern. It didn't take long, though, to see what the eastern North Carolina city faced in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.
"We've seen the force of water-what it can do, moving houses completely off their foundations, pushing right through the house, swirling and emptying out the house and pouring all the furniture out with it," said RRT chaplain coordinator Al New.
Although millions were affected by the deadly storm that made landfall Friday, September 14, New Bern in particular faced severe damage as strong winds forcefully pushed the rising river water up into homes. "A lot of people couldn't just turn and stay with their neighbor because all their neighbors were affected the same way," New continued. "Their first thoughts were not only that we lost our home, but where do we lay our heads tonight?"
But a few days can make a big difference.
"The day we arrived they were in shock and denial," New recalled. "And now they have smiles back on their faces and know things will get better.
"They're going to get through this."
Billy Graham chaplains are there to help encourage them with emotional and spiritual care. "We want to minister to them, come alongside loving on them, let them know they're not by themselves," New said. Over the next few weeks, the chaplains plan to continue building relationships with homeowners they've met and to make new relationships as well.
The following four short stories paint a picture of New Bern-post-Florence-including how one couple used their experience from Hurricane Katrina to help others.
An Answered Prayer
The paramedics had just been called when chaplains Norma Jean and Stormy Spellmeyer arrived at a large retirement community in New Bern.
On oxygen with COPD, an elderly man named Steve* was suffering in the heat after the storm knocked out his power.
Hearing about someone in need, the chaplains went over and offered prayer to Steve and his wife, Janet, who are in their 80s.
Chaplains Norma Jean and Stormy Spellmeyer encourage a New Bern resident. Steve refused, but Janet, who sat perspiring in a recliner, told Norma Jean a few things she'd like her to pray about.
Later on, the chaplains checked on the couple and Norma Jean prayed with Janet once again. She told Steve she'd be praying that their air-conditioning would be restored.
The next morning, the Spellmeyers returned to see Steve and Janet looking refreshed.
"Somehow, overnight, they'd got a cooling system delivered," Norma Jean explained. She was informed that it was now 64 degrees in their townhome. Her prayer for a cooler home had been answered.
As the chaplains prepared to leave, they asked the couple if they had any prayer requests. Immediately, Steve began struggling to stand up to pray with them but was pulled down by his oxygen and equipment. Reaching out his feeble hand toward them, he tried once more to stand and requested prayer for the electricity to be turned on.
"You know, you people are helping to restore my faith in mankind," Steve said as the chaplains left.
Norma Jean and Stormy turned back around, surprised. "It's not us. It's about Him," they answered.